Dr. Rahimah Hamdan is a lecturer at the Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), specializing in Traditional Malay Literature and Malay Cultural Studies. Her areas of expertise encompass classical literary traditions, cultural thought and the intellectual heritage of the Malay world. To date, she has published more than 58 academic articles in indexed and non-indexed journals (CIJ and non-CIJ) exploring diverse dimensions of Malay literature and cultural practices.

Among her notable scholarly contributions are studies on early Malay autobiographical writing particularly the works of Abdullah bin Abdul Kadir Munsyi as well as critical analyses of historical and legendary figures such as Hang Tuah in shaping Malay collective identity and cultural values. Her work also extends to critical examinations of colonial perspectives on Malay culture, including the symbolism of the keris and narrative traditions within classical Malay texts.

Dr. Rahimah is actively engaged in international research networks with her academic profiles available on ORCID, Google Scholar and ResearchGate. In 2024, she secured an international research grant from The Sumitomo Foundation (Japan) for a project entitled “Bridging Cultures Through Heroic Narratives: A Cross-Cultural Exploration of Heroism in Japanese and Malay Historiographical Texts.” In 2025, she was further selected to receive 'a travel grant and conference-fee sponsorship' from the Southeast Asian Studies Regional Exchange Program Foundation (SEASREP).

Beyond research and publication, she is deeply involved in global advocacy for women’s leadership and cultural heritage. She currently serves as the Malaysia Country Chair for the Culture & Heritage Wing of G100, a prestigious international network of women leaders. In June 2025, Dr. Rahimah was invited as a featured speaker at the Women Economic Forum ASEAN (WEF ASEAN 2025), where she addressed cultural issues and the evolving roles of women in regional leadership.

She also presented a paper titled “Pakai Cara Melayu” at the Bicara Seni Budaya programme held in conjunction with the Melaka International Rentak Bertandak 2025 festival, an event aligned with the pre-launch of World Tourism Day 2025 and the UNESCO Anniversary Celebration organized by the Melaka State Government. Most recently, in October 2025, she received international recognition as a “Woman of Excellence in Academe” from the United Nations Association of the Philippines (UNAP) in Manila.